Dubai: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has affirmed that the UAE will spare no effort to create a supportive environment for women to fulfil their roles as key partners in building the future of the nation.
“Emirati women have proved their competence in all fields and we are proud of every achievement they made, and thus we are committed to support them till they acquire the highest degrees of excellence and accomplish further achievements in line with our ambitious development vision,” Shaikh Mohammad said.
Shaikh Mohammad’s statement came while attending the UAE Gender Balance Council’s first meeting, chaired by President of the UAE Gender Balance Council and President of Dubai Women Establishment Shaikha Manal Bint Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, wife of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
During the meeting, Shaikha Manal announced the launch of the Gender Balance Index in government entities.
Shaikh Mohammad described the formation of the Gender Balance Council as a new step toward empowering UAE women. He also affirmed that the Council’s objectives complement the valued contributions of the Mother of the Nation, Her Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, Chairperson of the Family Development Foundation and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood.
Affirming its role in enhancing the work environment by giving women equal opportunities in the public sector, Shaikh Mohammad approved the Council’s launching of the Gender Balance Index for the government sector.
Shaikha Manal also issued a resolution appointing Mona Al Merri as vice-president of the UAE Gender Balance Council.
Shaikha Manal said that the Council is keen on monitoring its entrusted tasks in accordance with the aspirations of the wise leadership and in support to UAE’s overall development al all levels. “The Gender Balance Index in government entities aims at measuring the performance of these entities in achieving balance through a series of indices which include developing policies in support of women, applying these policies optimally, ensuring equal opportunities between men and women in leadership positions and decision-making positions as well as launching initiatives that will provide excellent services in the workplace, such as, creating women’s committees that serve women,” said Shaikha Manal.
She stressed the importance of developing federal and local strategies to deal with gender and social balance, examining existing legislations and studying the possibility of enhancing them, which will achieve the desired balance, especially as these legislations were passed several decades ago and might not fit the country’s large development ambitions.
In addition, the Council seeks to establish a database related to gender balance in the workplace and submit periodic reports to the Cabinet to indicate the progress made and identify the projects and needs requested by the Council to achieve its objectives.
